Awhile back, I talked to you about the link between insulin use and weight gain. Unfortunately, weight gain isn’t the only downside of this commonly prescribed therapy.

In 2008, Taiwanese researchers looked at more than 87,000 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with either oral drugs or insulin. They found that patients using insulin had a higher prevalence of hypertension (61.3% versus 53.9%) - and the longer they used it, the greater their risk.

This is not surprising when you consider insulin’s activities beyond nutrient storage. Injected insulin increases sodium retention and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. It induces oxidative stress, leading to free-radical damage that impairs the function of the endothelial cells lining the arteries. It also has growth factor-like activity that thickens blood vessels and increases risk of atherosclerosis.

Since people with diabetes are already at dramatically increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, the last thing they need is a treatment that amplifies this risk. Before accepting your doctor’s order to begin taking insulin (or to up your dose), talk to him or her about non-drug options. They are safe and effective, and they not only lower blood sugar but also treat underlying causes and protect against diabetic complications.